Type of railway passenger coach with double decks



June 12. 1928: 1,673,682

0. HULSE TYPE OF RAILWAY PASSENGER COACH WITH DOUBLE DECKS Filed Dec. 15, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l I N VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS.

I June 12. 1928. 1 1,673,682

0. HULSE TYPE OF RAILWAY PASSENGER COA GH WITH DOUBLE DECKS Filed Dec. 15, 1924 I 2 Sheets-Sheelt 2 0 O a i '3 r 33 1 V 3 29 L a L .91

IN VEN TOR.

Glitz/Z5 Patented June 12, 1928 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OSCAR HULSE, OF RONDEBOSCH, CAPE PROVINCE, SOUTH AFRICA.

TYPE OF RAILWAY PASSENGER COACH WITH DOUBLE DECKS.

Application filed December 15, 1924, Serial No. 756,143, and in the Union of South Africa March 23, 1924.

The present invention has reference to improvements in that class of invention known as railway rolling stock and more particularly relates to a rigid railway coach.

The invention as its primary aim and object conteniplates the provision of a railway coach of a standard size and gauge provided with upper and lower dcckings or passageways for increasing the capacity of the coach, the parts being arranged so that the passcngersmay conveniently enter and leave the coach and reach the seats either on the upper or lower deck.

More particularly the present invention contemplates the provision in a deviceof the above character of an underslung or well frame which is positioned in spaced relation to the draw bed and between which underslung portion of the frame and the roof of the coach are arranged the upper and lower dcclzings or platform which in turn support the seats.

More specific objects of the present invention reside in the provision of a railway coach wherein the roofing of the lower seating compartment constitutes the supports for the seats in the upper compartment and a support for the flooring of the passageways in the upper part while the main longitudinal braces are positioned in the body so as to provide bucks for the upper seats; in addition the inclined portions of the underslung framework constitutes supports for the steps leading to the lower compartment.

Other objects as well as the nature, characteristic features and scope of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims forming a part of this specification.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accoi'npanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional detail through one-half of the improved railway coach the other half of which is similarly constructed, and

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view through the improved coach.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the above described views to indicate correspondingparts.

Referring now, more particularly, to the accompanying drawings, there is provided a main rectangular frame embodying side bars 1 and end bars 2 preferably though not necessarily constructed of channel iron. The respective end portions of the frame are supported by trucks 3 while the medial portion, of the frame is underslung to form a, well the bottom of which is positioned in closely spaced relation to the draw bed, and the under-slung portionof which consists of plurality of channel shaped bars which are indicated by the numeral l and arranged in closely spaced relation medially of the frame with the inclined portion 5 connected with a transverse portion 6 in the main frame 1 while similarly constructed underslung portions 7 have their inclined portions connected with the main side bars 1 as shown at 8. The horizontal portions of the bars 4 and 7 support a flooring 9 for the lower com partnient while the inclined portions. 5 of the bars support centrally arranged steps 10 which lead from the main plattorms 11 on the truck supported endportions of the main frame and these platforms are prefen ably in alignment with the station platform so that passengers may conveniently enter the coach.

A body 12 of the standard size is mounted on the truck supported underslung frame and is provided adjacent the platforms 11 with doors 13 and 14C for permitting of the entrance and discharging of the passengers and in addition has a central aisle communieating with a connecting vestibule 15 for attachment with another coach. Transverse seats 16 are arranged on opposite sides of the aisle on the platforms 11 and in addition the sides of the body are provided with windows 17 and other conveniences for the passengers such as racks 18 and lights 19.

Rising vertically from the inclined portion 5 are transverse reinforcing and supporting partitions 20 to separate the end compartments 21 from the lower and upper compartments 22 and 23 respectively. These partitions 20 are provided with a cental doorway 24 ar'anged about the stairs 10 to allow the passengers to enter the lower compartment 22. The latter compartment is fitted on opposite sides with longitudinally arranged seats which extend throughout the length of the compartment 23 and which face each other while in addition this lower portion is provided with windows 26.

Arranged vertically and positioned in longitudinal alignment are two rows of pillars 27. These pillars are arranged adjacentthe seats and between the two rows a central passageway is provided which communicates with the steps 10. A roofing 28 is provided for the lower compartment while the central portion 29 -is arched so that passengers may walk in an upright position through the lower compartment to and from the seats. Lights 30 are mounted in the top of the arched portion and the latter is also fitted with hangers 31 for the convenience of the passengers. The horizontal side portions of the roofing "together with the pillars and the side portions 31 of the car constitute supports for the fioorings 32 for the upper compartment while 'the upper seats 33 which extend throughout the length of the upper compartment are arranged back to back and face the aisles provided by the fioorings 32 on opposite sides of the ear body. In order to reinforce the body, longitudinal beams 34 are arranged immediate'ly'above the arched portion 29 of the roofing and secured to the partitions 20. These portions 'are slightly inclined toward each other and constitute the backs of the seats in the upper compartment while the respective ends are cut away as at 35 to align with the upper edge of the doorways 24 this inclined portion being positioned immediately above the steps 10 so as to facilitate passengers ente'i'ing'and leaving the lower compartment by way of the steps. The partitions 20 are in addition provided with doorways 36 to permit ofentrance to the upper compartments while other stairs 37 lead from the aisles 32am] doorways '36 to the platforms 11. Rails 38 are provided adjacent both the stairs 10 and 37.

In order to further reinforce the roof vertical bars '39 are arranged between the beams 34 and the roof 40 of the body while the lights 41 and hangers a2 are arranged on the inside of the roof 40 for the convenience of the passengers in the upper comp'artment. Vindows i3 are also arranged in the walls of thecoach body for lighting and ventilating the upper compartment.

, Attention is particularly directed to the fact that the legs of the seats are arranged in alignment with the rows of pillars 27 while the upper portion of the arched portions 29 serves to coact with the beams 34 in supporting the main portion of the upper seats. It is also to be noted that the roofing 28 with its arched portion 29 as well as the floors 32 constitute horizontal partition members which divide the upper and lower compartments over the underslung portion.

Attention is also directed to the fact that the roof and side 'walls of the body or coach are in continuous unbroken alignment from end to end. Bythe terms size and gauge it is "to be understood that these terms are intendetl to coyer'a railway coachin which 'the height and width 'is the same as ordi nary railway coaches at present in use on the railroads in this country, the particular advantage being in the provision of a superposed seating compartment in a railway coach the over-all height of which at all points is the same as a standard railway coach so that the present coach may be used on all railway lines so as to pass through tunnels and under low bridges etc.

Itis believed in view of the foregoing that a further detailed description of: the operation of the invention is entirely unnccessary. Likewise it is believed that the advantages of the "invention will be readily apparent.

Having thus fully described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by "Letters Patent is:-

1. A railway coach including a body of the standard size and gauge provided with entrance and exit compartments at the rcspective ends and also provided with an i'inderslung medial portion having superposed seating COIllPtll'llllOfiiS, the 'walls and root of the body at the ends and middle being respectfully in continuous unbroken alignment with ach other. and means for permitting aceess'of passengers to either of the superposed compartments from the end compartments.

2. A railway coach of the character described,'a rectangular frain'e,'trucks at the respective'ends thereof, an u'ndcrslung frame structure situated between the trucks and including inclined portions, :1 body of the standard gauge size carried by the frame, combined passenger and 'entrance and exit Eli compartments at. the respective ends of the body. and supm'posed L'OIIIIXIIUilOfltS positioned over the lllldt'lrjlilllg"POLtlUil and coin- 'municating with the end compartments.

3. A railway coach as claimed in claim 1, wherein steps are provided between the end con'ipartments and the lower COIIlPtH'iIHLHiS and are supported on inclined portions of the underslung part of the frame.

4-. A railway'coach as claimed in claim 2. wherein reinforcing and supporting partitions are arranged transversely and vertically in the body between the end compartments and the superposedcompartments and provieed with door-ways for permitting the passengers passing from the end compartments into either the upper or lower compartments.

5. A railway coach including a body provided with an underslung portion having admission and exit compartments at the respective ends thereof and superposed compartments at the underslung portion, pa'rti tions separating the end compartments from the superposed compartments and provided with doorways, steps lcadinp from theend compartments respectivclyto the upper and lower compartments, seats arranged on opposite sides and facing each other in the lower compartment, seats arranged back to back and longitudinally of the upper compartment, and longitudinal reinforcing beams arranged between the partitions and forming supports for the backs of the seats in the upper compartments.

6. A railway coach, a frame provided with an u n (lei-slung portion, a body carried by the frame, end compartments in said body, a horizontally arranged and longitudinally extending partition member medially of the height of the body over the under-slung portion of the frame and dividing the same into superposed compartments, the medial portion of said member being arched forming a roofing for the passageway in the lower compartment seats on opposite sides of the lower compartments and facing each other, the side portions of the horizontal member constituting the floor of the upper compartment, seats arranged back to back in the upper compartment and supported on. the arched portion of the member, vertical transverse partitions separating the end compartments from the superposed compartments, and provided with door-ways for establishing communication therebetween and steps leading from the end compartments to the upper and lower compartments.

7. A railway coach as claimed in claim 6, wherein longitudinal beams are arranged between the vertical partitions and constitute supports for the backs of the seats in the upper compartment.

8. A railway coach as claimed in claim 6, wherein longitudinal beams are arranged between the vertical partitions and constitute supports for the backs of the seats in the upper compartment, and vertically disposed rods between the roof of the body and the longitudinal beams.

9. A railway coach as claimed in claim 6, wherein a plurality of pillars are arranged vertically within the lower compartment in spaced parallel rows adjacent the seats leaving a central aisle therebetween, and the pillars acting to sustain the weight of the forward portions of the seats in the upper compartment.

10; A railway coach of the standard size and gauge including a frame having a medial under-slung portion, a body for the frame, vertical partitions separating the body into a large medial compartment over the underslung portion and relatively small compartments at the ends of the body, a horizontal partition member between the vertical partitions and separating the medial compartment into upper and lower compartments, seats arranged in all of the compart-- ments and steps arranged between the end compartments and the upper and lower compartments.

11. A railway coach of the standard size and gauge provided with end admission and exit compartments and having the medial portion underslung and provided with superposed compartments arranged in commuication with the end compartments, and the outside walls and roof ofthe coach being in continuous unbroken alignment throughout the length thereof.

12. A railway coach of the standard size and gauge provided with combined passenger and admission and exit end compartments and having the medial portion underslung and provided with superposed compartments arranged in communication with the end compartments, seats arranged in all of the compartments and steps arranged between the end compartments and the upper and lower con'lpartments.

1.3. A railway coach of the standard size and gauge provided with combined passenger and admission and exit end compartments and having the medial portion underslung and provided with superposed compartments arranged in communication with the end compartments, seats arranged in all of the compartments, steps arranged between the end compartments and the upper and lower compartments, the seats in the lower compartment being arranged on opposite sides of the compartment and facing each other, the seats in the upper compartment being arranged back to back and a partition between the upper and lower compartments having the medial portion arched transversely forming a roofing for the aisle in the lower compartment and a support for the seats in the upper compartment.

14. A railway coach as claimed in claim 13, wherein longitudinal reinforcing beams are arranged between the vertical partitions and constitute supports for the backs of the seats in the upper compartment and having the respective ends cut away at points over the steps between the end compartments and the lower compartment.

15. A railway coach of standard gauge and size having the medial portion underslung, a horizontal partition member in the medial portion dividing the same into upper and lower compartments, seats in the compa-rtments, and the medial portion of the partition member being arched transversely to permit of passengers to stand erect in the lower compartment and also form a support for the seats in the upper compartment and combined passenger and entrance and exit compartments at the ends of the coach and arranged in communication with the upper and lower compartments.

16. In a railway coach of the character described a main rectangular frame, trucks supporting the ends thereof, a plurality of bars forming an underslun well structure suspended from the main frame and positioned between the trucks, and a body having a continuous unbroken roof and side walls carried by the main frame and the underslung structure and provided'with combined passenger and admission and exit compartments positionedover the ends of the main frame and superposed passenger receiving compartments positioned over the underslung structure.

17. A railway coach as claimed in claim 16, wherein vertical transverse partitions are arranged adjacent the ends of the body to provide the end compartments and are provided with doorways .to establish. communication with the superposed compartnients and a horizontal :longitiulinal partitiou member between the vertical partitions for providing the superposed compartments.

18. A railway coach as claimed in claim 16, wherein the end portions of the bars :forming the :underslung portion are inclined and steps supported on the inclined portion of thebars for permitting passengers to pass from the end compartments to the lower compartments.

19. A railway car of substantially standard dimensions, including a pair 01' trucks and a body supported upon and having its central portion extending downwardly between saidtrucks, and a deck within said car and having its ends terminating adjacent the ends of saidicentral portion, the roof of said car being spaced from the floor and deck thereof, and the deck being spaced from the floor ofv the central portion thereof toan extent-to provideadequat-e head room.

20. A railroad car of substantially standard dimensions, including a pair of trucks and a body supported upon and having its central portion extendingadownwardly be- 1 ,evaesz plane above that occupied by the car ends,

and stairs leading from said car ends to the floor of said deck and central car .pontion. 21. A railroad car of substantially stand- ,ard dimensions, including a pair of trucks and a body supported upon and having its central portion extending downwardly between said trucks, a deck within said central car portion and having .one of its ends terminating in a plane short of that into which the corrcs mnding end of the central cal portion extends, said deck occupying a plane above the horizontal plane occupied by ithe rear ends, and steps leading from one of said car ends upwardly to the corresponding end of said deck.

22. A. railroad car of substantially standard dimensions, including a pair of trucks and a body supported upon and having its central portion extending downwardly between said trucks, a deck within the central portion of said car and in a plane above the end portions thereof, and stairways ileading from the inner ends of said end portions to the outer ends of the floors-o1 said deck and the suspended portion, said :latter portion, deck and Stairways being arranged in the form of an irregular hexagon having parallel sides, the ends of said carextending substantially in line with the side apices of said hexagon.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

OSCAR HULSE. 

